The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-05-28
Written for The ArkdnsdW Irdveler.
 AN IDEAL CHARACTER.
BY DABNEY MARSHALL.

about the little village. The villagers that gathered in knots under the shade trees on the street corners, spoke in low, hushed tones, and kept their eyes fixed on the ground. Even the spring sunlight seemed to fall sadly, and to lay its golden kisses on the lifted lips of the flowers more in wistful bene- dictions than in the warm desire of passion, and there was soft and trem- ulous pathos ill the wavering song of the little bird that sang and strove to be gay among the fading china tree blooms In front of little cottage the village doctors buggy was drawn up, and from within came the subdued but intense means of woman min gled with the wilder outbursts of childish lamentation. Soon, alas! the blue trailing myrtles would be ten- derly clasping their leafy arms around another grave stone in the humble burying- ground, and the weaving lichens and moses would take up their green and golden watch on its shining sides and summit. MT. E. 7. Gower, the village loafer, lay dead. Nevermore would be seen at churches, at picnics and social gatherings his noble, kindly face and big feet. Yes, he was dead, but always wary, and careful of his health, he had succeeded in living till his dying day. AS he lay with his clammy lips, so calm and fixed and still, with his lusterless eyes staring piteously under his death-cold brow, his gathering friends wept bit terly and mourned that he had died be- fore he had left so many souvenirs and autographs in the shape of unpaid ac- counts and promissory notes. And yet, how precious would these souve- nirs have been, with what tender care preserved, if he had only died pos sessed of large fortune instead of large poverty and family. But whatever en- vious deterioration might say, he had only made two great mistakes in his life; the first was in ever being born, and the second was in not immediately dying after the commission of the un- advised act of birth. This second mis- take, be it said to his credit-and this never was great-he rectitied by shuf- fling off this mortal coil when he could live no longer.
 His was an ideal character.
 He was moral reformer, and went around removing temptations out of the way of the young and thoughtful by annihilating great quantities of whisky and chewing all the tobacco he could borrow. Though by no means vain of his personal appearance, he frequently looked in the glass-the beer-glass. He would have made a fine soldier, for though he would always irrigate when the boys set 'em up, he scorned to retreat. He was fair minded, easy to be convinced of the right and ever open to political argument, backed by reason on the promise of an office. Though he never yielded to the sentimental appeals of the orator with the silver tongue. he uniformly gave heed to those of the man with the silver dollar. In cleo tion times he always cast his vote where it would do the most good to himself. He was kind of heart. Never did sweet charity knock at his door in the shape of tramp, shivering, hun- gry and wretched, but he gave him good advice. He rose superior to prejudices. The acceptance of favors did not prevent his dealing out exact justice against those who had be- slowed them on him, for there was never railroad but he accepted pass of it, if it would give it to him, and yet decided against it when he sat on ajury and farmer sued it for mule it never killed. He always told the truth when it paid better than lying. x He earned his money honestly when it aSasssEs SS Sss5